Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-11-09
MIR. MATTHIAS.

Everybody in the little town of Tyre
sur-Ys was astOnished when it became
known that Mr.. Matthias was dead.
He was barely 40 years Of age and was
a robust man, as straight as an arrow.
About three years before, he had become
the husband of a young girl of 20, a niece
OF the tax collector, and whom he had
loved with frenzy.
OF course, once dead, Mr.. Matthias was
credited with having been, during his life
time, the pOssessor of every virtue. II
would have gone hard with the one who
should have dared speak of him as having
been usurer or miser, as people termed
him while living.
NO one would have dreamed of publish
ing anew the account of that celebrated
marriage, which certainly did him no
honor, and which would have brought
back to mind the remembrance how all
had feared that tall, artful, avaricious and
rich man whom people supposed to Oc-
cupy his spare moments in connecting
poisOns, with which he experimental on
dogs. 1t was no time to talk about that
then. He was dead. Peace to his ashesl
After all, in thinking the matter over.
was there anything so very extraordinary
IN TINS death? 1t was plain that Mr.. Ma
thlas had had forebOdings of it's approach.
Tor, had he not, but a short time before.
sent TO Paris for WOrkmen to erect in the
cemetery the mOrtuary chapel that was at
That moment waiting to receive his mortal
remains? Besides, it had been noticed
that of late he had prowled about his
house as if fearing mysterious robbers.
He sequestered his wife and closed him
self up for weeks at a time in his labora-
tory, the chimney of which seemed in a
blaze every night. "All these were the
premonitOry symptoms of brain
troublen' had said DIR. Labarre, who had
decided that death had resulted from apo-
plexy.
Mr.. Matthias had had splendid funeral.
One-third of the population of the town
had followed his remains to the graveyard.
and it may even be said that there were a
few moist eyes when the oaken coffin was
lowered into the crypt of the chapel, a real
monument in itself, where two men of his
size might have slept at their ease.
The mOurners returned from the funer-
al, wondering what the widow would do.
Now, the truth of the matter is that Mr..
Two hours after the ceremony. anyone
who might have been in the vault where
the coffin rested would have certified to
the truth of this statement. Two sbarp
clicks, like the snap ola spring, resounded.
and the coffin opened like closet. Mr..
Matthias sat up, stretching his limbs like
man just waking up. Through a graf
ing in the ceiling, little light entered
Mr. Matthias stood up slowly rubbing his
slightly benumbed knees.
Taking all in all, he felt comfortable
quite comfortable. The dose of the mar
cotic, which he had carefully measured
himself before taking, had had the exact
effect he desired. People had supposed
him dead, and had buried him, so much
the better.
Since long while Mr.. Matthias had
made his preparations. The vault had
been fitted up with great care. In it
there were suitable clothing, food, and a
few bottles of good wine. AS nothing
stimulates the appetite more than n
funeral, even if it is ones own. Mr..
Matthias seated himself comfortably on his
collin, broke his fast and drank good luck
to the future.
IL Is about time to say why, of his own
free will, Mr.. Matthias was at that moment
six feet below the surface of the ground.
AS usual, there was woman mixed ND
III the matter. Unmoved bv feminine
charms until the age of 40 Mr.. Matthias.
formerly an apOthecary, who had made a
fortune with anti-spasm pills, fell in love
with pretty Anne Piedefer, the niece of
the taXgatherer at Lyre-sur-Ys. He had
bluntly proposed to the young girl. who
had just as bluntly refused to become
Mrs. Matthias, in consequence OF which he
fell in love like fool. l beg pardon. I
should say like man of 40 who allows
himself to fall in love. Not being of an
OverhOnest nature, he had weaved such n
subtle web about the taxgatherer that in
less than years time, knowing that the
governments cash did not count up right,
the unfortunate man was seriously con-
Slderlng the ACCESSIBILITY of committing
suicide. 1t was at this moment that Mr..
Matthias appeared in the guise of n savior
and made his terms. The niece offered
herself up as a sacrifice to save an uncle
who had been a father to her, although
her affections were already pledged to a
clerk in the office of a notary in a neigh
boring town. AS q sad victim ON the altar
OF duty, Anne became Nine. Matthias.
She soon felt all the consequences of the
catastrophe. Mr.. Matthias land perbaDs
he was not far wrong was convinced that
his wife hated him. From this conviction
to the belief that she was deceiying him.
there was but one step. Ever tornented
by this suspicion, he became a monoma-
MAC His wife never put her foot ont of
doors, and nobody came to see her. Still.
Mr.. Matthias imagined that the reason he
dld not catch his wife wrong doing was on |
account Of his awkwardness. and in his
own mind he voted himself an ass.
ltwas then that bright idea struck |
him. He would pretend that he was 90
ing on journey, not to Versailles or
Hayre, as do comedy husbands, but on n |
long, long journey, from which it would |
seem very difficult for him to return.
And then, some night, he would CONS |
back as much alive as ever, to the great |
confusion of the guilty one
He allowed himself three davs' time
and he was quite pleased with himself as |
be thought of all this, in stretching him |
self out comfortably in his coffin once |
more.
Mr.. Matthias was getting impatient as
The third day drew to a close. He waited |
until the cemetery clock struck II. the
hour he had chosen to begin operations.
His plans had all been well laid. The
wall Of the graveyard bounded his prop
erty. lie had on hand a complete suit of
black clothes in which to array himself as
phantom druggist. In the graveyard
only would he wear his shrOud to be in